Norwich United reached their fifth Norfolk Senior Cup final with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Cromer in their third Senior Cup visit to Cabell Park in six seasons.

Norwich United manager Paul Chick was delighted with the Planters victory over Cromer at Cabell Park yesterday. “This season has had some troubling times for us, bad luck with bad injuries to key players, it was good to see Matty Robinson and Warren Preston here today supporting the boys.

“We knew that Cromer would be up for the game, it was their cup final after all, we knew we had to show them respect, in fact we showed them as much respect as we showed to Wroxham, but I knew if we turned up we had enough individual and collective ability on the pitch to win through and that's exactly what we did.”

“Our concentration and application in the early stage was very good and it was very important to how the game progressed. Cromer worked hard but our big players were tremendous and I felt we were the better side in every area of the pitch.”

“We now have two months before the final, we won't take Mattishall lightly and we will have a look at them. Our players have several league games to play for their final place. We now need to put the Senior Cup on the back burner for a while and start picking up points and moving up the league table.”

Norwich United reached their fifth Norfolk Senior Cup final with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Cromer in their third Senior Cup visit to Cabell Park in six seasons. The Planters will play Mattishall in the Carrow Road final on Tuesday, April 13.

The Planters looked in control from the 11th minute when James Wilson netted from close range Andrew Claydon doubled the lead before the break, and despite Lee Hunter's penalty being saved, he turned provider to see Steve Shipley seal the victory in the 86th minute.

The Planters knew an early goal was important and after an even opening 10 minutes which saw both sides have half-chances it was the Ridgeons side who took the lead against their Anglian Combination Premier Division hosts. Hunter's free kick from the right found Paul Atkins beyond the far past who headed back into the danger zone for Claydon to touch goalwards. The ball was cleared off the line by a home defender only for Wilson to net from close range.

Cromer were not going to lay down quietly and Ben Nower, making his first start of the new year after an injury lay-off, had to come out quickly to deny Simon Durrant.

In the 25th minute the Planters doubled their advantage when Atkins hit a long ball forward to Claydon who clipped the ball over Paul Bradshaw and raced on to lob home keeper Richard Kellett and saw the ball nestle just inside the post.

Cromer responded immediately and Bradshaw was unlucky to see a header deflected over the Planters' bar for a corner.

Hunter missed the opportunity to add a third in first half injury time when he latched on to a poor clearance but saw his shot tipped over the bar by Kellett.

Hunter was again in action straight after the break, released by a long ball forward a heavy touch on the deteriorating surface saw Kellett able to claim the ball. Jordan Blyth went close with a curling shot which went wide of the far post.

Cromer's forays into United territory were getting fewer but on a rare incursion Josh Gray's cross was headed wide by Gavin Morais.

Cromer were lucky to keep their numbers intact, when Liam Davies brought Claydon down from behind when the striker was bearing in on goal, referee Darin Geary produced a yellow.

Nower still had to be alert and he had to tip a free-kick that came from deep and through a packed area round the post for a corner.

The Planters were looking more likely to score though and Atkins shot high after cutting in from the left, and a Hunter cross caused problems in the home defence and Claydon's shot was deflected for a corner.

The Crabs were still battling away and Wilson had to block a Darren Terrington shot, but almost immediately at the other end the Planters had a chance to make it three when Claydon raced into the box only to be brought down by Davies once more. The referee pointed to the spot and showed Davies his second yellow. Kellett did well to get down low to push Hunter's spot kick away for a corner.

From the corner however the Planter's extended their lead and put any worries to bed when Hunter's flag kick was met at the near post by Shipley whose lovely glancing header found the far corner of the net.

The Planters had further chances before the final whistle, substitute Tom Jeal releasing Hunter whose shot was saved by Kellett and Darren Coe's header from another Hunter corner was cleared off the line.

Cromer Town: Kellett, Harwood, Gray, Davies, Bradshaw, Honeyman, Landamore, Durrant (Barnes 62), Terrington, Morais, Eves (McInally 90). Unused Subs: Cameron, Neale, Cullington.

wich United: Nower, McCabe, Furlong, Coe, Wilson, Shipley, Hunter, Squires, Claydon, Blyth (Jeal 86), Atkins (Butler 86). Unused subs: J Cook, Pauling.

Attendance: 127

Referee: D Geary. Assistants: J Chapman and S Nunn.